Ear acupuncture could be effective in helping weight loss, according to a new study.
The study, published in the ‘Acupuncture in Medicine’ journal, consisted of three groups; a five-point treatment, which is the standard Korean treatment, a one-point treatment and a control group. The control group was given a ‘sham’ treatment as a placebo.
Everybody on the trial had a body mass index (BMI) of 23 or greater and the same doctor performed the procedure on all three groups.
Halfway through the trial, the five-point treatment group showed a 6.1 per cent reduction in BMI, and the one-point group showed a 5.7 per cent drop. The full results also show a reduction in BMI for the five-point group.
However scientists have criticised the trial, saying it was a waste of money.
Edzard Ernst, a professor of complementary medicine at the University of Exeter, said: “It is hard to think of a treatment that is less plausible than ear acupuncture.”
The study has also been criticised for only being eight weeks long, which is not sufficient for an issue such as weight loss.